Republicans retreat on gay marriage

[kpete]

Source: Politico

It’s been one of the swiftest shifts in ideology and strategy for Republicans, as they’ve come nearly full circle on same-sex politics. What was once a front-and-center issue for rank-and-file Republicans — the subject of many hotly worded House and Senate floor speeches — is virtually a dead issue, as Republicans in Congress don’t care to have gay marriage litigated in the Capitol.

Even more than that, Republican leadership has evolved, too. It has quietly worked behind the scenes to kill amendments that reaffirm opposition to same-sex unions, several sources told POLITICO.

It’s not like the GOP has become a bastion of progressiveness on gay rights, but there has been an evolution in the political approach — and an acknowledgment of a cultural shift in the country. Same-sex relationships are more prominent and accepted. There are more gay public figures — including politicians — and it’s likely that many Washington Republicans have gay friends and coworkers. Just as important — there’s also a libertarian streak of acceptance on people’s sexuality coursing through the House Republican Conference.

“In one decade, what’s shocking on TV is accepted as commonplace in the other,” said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), a veteran of the culture wars of the 1990s. “It’s the same with sexual morays all over that if you look at campuses and universities, they have a lot of gay pride clubs and so there has been a deliberate and effective outreach to the younger generation about being more accepting of same-sex relationships.”




Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74661.html

[mac56]

1. "Sexual morays"?

Eeeeeeeeeew.

[jberryhill]

5. That's a moray!

[tsuki]

10. I thought that was a-moray. nt

[Skinner]

11. Rofl.

[SemperEadem]

13. Or....

[The Second Stone]

24. When an eel bites your heel

and you let out a squeal
that's a moray...

[SemperEadem]

2. Wow.. they based a whole election around this topic in 2004

this'll make the heads of the outfit in KS explode.

[RKP5637]

12. KS Phelps family will sue R's for discrimination against them. Popping heads.

[Enrique]

3. ha ha ha "sexual morays"

oh, Politico!

[Arugula Latte]

23. Damn you auto correct!

[marshall]

4. The Romney-fication of the party

Romney is a sort of "live and let live" on this issue, drawing lots of fire from the rabid right wingers. But if he is the one chosen by them, that would certainly signal a thawing of the general opinion.

[BB_Troll]

6. Refreshing

My friend switched to our side over this issue. He'll be glad to see the "thaw" happening.

[LynneSin]

7. They gave up and now are circling back once again to attack women

It's always some group of people they are repressing. I guess it's us women's turn again

[VWolf]

8. Yep. Randi Rhodes used to say

"Gay is the new Black"

I guess Woman is the new Gay now.

[LynneSin]

9. Give it a few years and Black will be the new Woman

sick pigs they are!

[VWolf]

17. Sad but true n/t

[ellisonz]

21. They're attacking voting really hard too.

Voter ID laws and a super-restrictive law on registration drives in Florida.

[bluedigger]

14. My university had a gay pride club over thirty years ago...

[Not Me]

15. And I hope that every single one of those "R"s who stood in the way of equality

is called out for their votes in the past 10-20 years. Make them answer for their votes!

[randome]

16. The war for acceptance has been won.

Still many battles to fight but the momentum is unmistakable.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. So has Hell frozen over now?

Am guessing the Log Cabin Rethugs have made the point well known that they will lose downticket without them.

[johnnypneumatic]

19. this is bull from politico

Last edited Fri Mar 30, 2012, 03:46 PM - Edit history (1)

politico is a right-wing propaganda outlet
the republican party is a homophobic hate group
and in fact if anything they seem more extremist than ever.
All three remaining R presidential contenders including Rmoney signed NOM's hate pledge, a pledge to push a constitutional amendment against marriage equality, nominate homophobic supreme court justices, defend DOMA, and to "investigate" gay groups for attacking "religious liberty", etc.
How many states have initiative votes coming up to fight marriage equality? How many homophobic laws did they succeed in pushing through in many states even this year?
It is republicans in control of the house that are blocking all progress and opposing any and every lgbt rights law, and opposing repeal of DOMA

Maybe rethugs are getting more careful about what they say publicly, (though I can't say I've noticed much holding back- Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman), just like they no longer call blacks certain names, but they are just as racist and homophobic as ever.

[LiberalLovinLug]

20. EVERYTHING is politicaly motivated

Deep down I would guess that most Republican reps do not have anything against gay marriage. Cheney himself, with a gay daughter, had to admit it. Only the totally deranged christofascists of the GOP like Santorum actually are that morally stupid as to actually believe what they say.

Its simply a case of critical mass. In the past the GOP had the majority in their pockets on this issue. And they saw it as a handy wedge issue to galvanize the bigots into their camp. They see the shift towards acceptability of gay rights and they will not want to be seen as in the minority. But they also don't want to be seen as supporters so the best thing is simply to drop it from their conversation.

This is what Herr Harper did up in Canada. The Conservatives won (with 39% of the vote) one reason being that for years they had fought our gay marriage initiative proposed by other parties. This was fine in opposition, but when they were getting closer to winning it all, they dropped the issue like a hot potoato. They "sacrificed" that battle to win the war. That's where the GOP is headed I think.

[Warren Stupidity]

22. Whu what?

This is politico starting the reset for the Romney campaign to move toward the center. We just went through months of republican presidential candidates competing with each other over how homophobic they are and how many rights they would be taking away.

[underpants]

25. Why "retreat" and not "back up" ?

[underpants]

26. Pssst Jack...TV is not real

but it is representative of the economy....gays have money. In fact some have so much that they can afford to buy.....wait for it.... moray eels

[goclark]

27. 'bout time! K and R